49 CFR §391.25 (Annual MVR Inquiry and Review)
49 CFR §391.25 is the FMCSA regulation that requires every motor carrier to obtain a fresh Motor Vehicle Record on each driver at least once every twelve months and conduct a documented annual review of the driver's qualifications.
What it is
The rule has two parts. §391.25(a) requires the carrier to obtain a current MVR from each state in which the driver held an operator's license or permit during the prior twelve months. §391.25(b) requires a designated company official to review the new MVR plus any other information about the driver's record (accidents, complaints, driver-reported violations) and prepare a written record of that review, which goes in the DQ File. The reviewer must consider whether the driver still meets §391.15 disqualification criteria.
How it applies
In practice, carriers run §391.25 on the anniversary of hire or on a fleet-wide review cycle. The annual review is a documented pause where someone with authority signs off that the driver is still qualified - it is not a checkbox; the regulation expects the reviewer to actually consider whether anything new on the record disqualifies the driver under §391.15. The MVR plus the written annual-review note both go in the DQ File and stay there for three years from the date of the review.
Why it matters
Stale annual MVRs are the second most-cited DQ File finding after missing §391.23 records. A pattern of missing or late §391.25 reviews shows up on a carrier's safety profile and can cost them satisfactory rating - which in turn can cost them brokers, shippers, and insurance.
Related terms
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